On The Presentation Of Risk In DeLillo’s Underworld

Don De Lillo,a famous contemporary American novelist,paints detailed portraits of American life in the late 20^thand early 21^stcenturies.Most of De Lillo’s works manifest his acute awareness of the problematic conditions of contemporary American society.De Lillo’s attention to the aspects of contemporary western world is resonant with that of German sociologist Ulrich Beck.Beck’s theory of risk society offers a profoundly original way of conceptualizing and thinking about the nature,problems,and dynamics of late modern society.In doing so,it provides a reflection on the modern condition.Therefore,this thesis attempts to analyze De Lillo’s Underworld from the perspective of risk society theory.It mainly focuses on the social risk phenomena in Underworld brought by the expansion of techno-scientific development,the irresponsibility of social organizations and the process of urbanization.The risks resulted from the advancement of science and technology in Underworld are reflected through the disastrous consequence of chemical pollutants and nuclear waste to human being and the environment.In addition,along with the modern society being transformed into risk society,the decisions of organizations are often perceived as sources of risk.As for that,De Lillo discloses bluntly the risks brought by the irresponsibility of social organizations,such as the irresponsibility of American government and the corporations in dealing with the hazardous waste,and the mass media’s obsessive attention to the terrible disasters and violence.Besides,the risks caused by the process of urbanization is reflected on the negative effects of the process of individualization and the detrimental consequences of the increasing number of environmental problems in urban areas.After analyzing the risk phenomena in De Lillo’s Underworld,this thesis summarizes that the nature of the risks De Lillo explores in Underworld is actually the consequence of the modernity,such as the techno-scientific development,organization irresponsibility and the process of urbanization.Although De Lillo portrays the dark side of the American society,he still expresses a longing for a better future by offering his solution to the problematic condition of contemporary human life.